Investigation into the use of wikis for collaborative writing in L2 academic writing workshops: a pilot study

Abstract

Although public wikis have proven to be successful for collaborative writing projects, very few studies have investigated their use in L2 classes. This study sets out to explore the use of wikis for collaborative writing in L2 academic writing workshops.

The students were all adult EFL students at Intermediate level studying English at a language school in Edinburgh. Six students were observed as they worked on a wiki.

Two students were interviewed to elicit their experience of collaborative writing in this environment.

The study found that L2 students with competent ICT skills had no problem using the software. Writing on the wiki afforded students the opportunity to compose collaboratively, and comment on each other’s writing. In this environment while writing they could also read, search for information and use online dictionaries.

Feedback form the students indicated that the experience was positive although one student expressed reservations about writing for a public audience.